Sunday, November 16, 2008

TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

You don’t see a lot of BIS winning Rhodesian Ridgebacks. I’ve often wondered why. A Rhodesian has the same kind of impressive presence you find in a Rottweiler or a Doberman, a kind of “Think about it before you come into my territory” look. They also have the reputation legends are made of. “You say you went hunting today? Took down a couple of foxes. Nice. Me? We bagged us some lion butt.” How do you top that? Can’t beat a Rhodesian for doggy machismo. Well, the weekend’s not even over and we already have two BIS won by Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

CH Adili's American Idol

The first came on Friday at the Greater Monroe Kennel Club show in Concord NC, when CH Adili's American Idol caught the eye of Judge Jim C. Briley. “Spirit“ was bred by Tammy Lynch, Karen LaFleur, & N Vaccarino. He is co owned by Tammy, Karen, and Kiki Courtelis of Micanopy FL and handled by Frank J Murphy. The second came Saturday at the Chesapeake Kennel Club Of Maryland show in West Friendship MD. Judge Whitney J. Coombs handed the top prize to CH Of Afrikka Spring Valley Dorian Gray JC, a dog with more family names than a crown prince in an eastern European country. This impressive looking fellow was bred by Dr Christina Wistrom, is owned by the good doctor and Sonnet McKinnon of Greenwich CT. and handled by Jack Secrest. And if all that is not impressive enough, he beat the country‘s number five dog to do it. The Sealyham Terrier, CH Efbe s Hidalgo At Goodspice, finished the day with a Group win and just 149 points.

CH Of Afrikka Spring Valley Dorian Gray JC

Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders have been much maligned of late because of the BBC’s salacious documentary, Pedigreed Dogs Exposed, which claimed that the culling of ridgeless puppies was a routine practice, a claim backed by nothing more than unsubstantiated stories. Let’s hope that the animal rights terrorists don’t deprive us of this magnificent animal.

NUMBER EIGHT

NUMBER NINE

NUMBER TEN

SHOW INFO

******************

The author has been attending dog shows as a spectator and exhibitor for over 45 years. He is a retired management consultant who has advised multiple organizations affiliated with the AKC and the Cat Fanciers Association on business management, long range planning, customer service, and legislative matters. After 25 years of living in the big cities of New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, he now resides in his hometown of Memphis, TN.

LET US HEAR FROM YOU

We love to get e-mail from our readers. Send us your show reports, photos of your wins, and any other interesting tidbits you want to share with our readers. E-mail us at bill38112@aol.com